Let the histories of Cain, Pharaoh, Haman, Nebuchadnezzar, and Herod, exhibit the proud under the rebuke and curse of God.

Posted : 25 Feb, 2013 02:24 AM

Psalm 119:21 You have rebuked the proud that are cursed, which err from Your commandments.



Let the histories of Cain, Pharaoh, Haman, Nebuchadnezzar,

and Herod, exhibit the proud under the rebuke and curse of

God. He abhors their persons, and their offerings; He "knows

them afar off," "He resists them;" "He scatters them in the

imaginations of their hearts." Especially hateful are they in His

sight, when cloaking themselves under a spiritual garb; "They

say, Stand by yourself, come not near me; for I am holier than

you: these are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the

day." Most of all, is this sin an abomination in His own beloved

people. David and Hezekiah are instructive beacons in the

church, that they, least of all, must expect to escape His

rebuke-"You were a God who forgave them; though You took

vengeance on their inventions." "Now they call the proud

happy." But will they be counted so, when they shall be

manifestly under the curse of God; when "the day of the Lord

shall be upon them to bring them low," yes, to "burn them in

the oven" of "His wrath?"

Pride probably influences all, that "err from the Lord's

commandments;" yet doubtless "the Righteous Judge" will

make an infinite difference between errors of infirmity and

obstinate willfulness. The confession of the man of God, "I

have gone astray like a lost sheep "-is widely different in

character from the subjects of this awful rebuke and curse.

"You have trodden down all those who err from Your statutes;

for their deceit is falsehood."

We wonder not at this expression of the mind of God

concerning pride. There is no sin more abhorrent to His

character. It is as if we were taking the crown from His head,

and placing it upon our own. It is man making a god of

himself-acting from himself, and for himself. Nor is this

principle less destructive to our own happiness. And yet it is

not only rooted, but it often rears its head and blossoms, and

bears fruit, even in hearts which "hate and abhor" its

influence. It is most like its father, the Devil, in serpentine deceitfulness. It is always active-always ready imperceptibly

to mix itself up with everything. When it is mortified in one

shape, it rises in another. When we have thought that it was

gone, in some unexpected moment we find it here still. It can

convert everything into nourishment, even God's choicest

gifts- yes, the graces of His Spirit. Let no saint, therefore,

however near he may be living to God, however favored with

the shinings of His countenance- consider himself beyond the

reach of this temptation. Paul was most in danger, when he

seemed to be most out of it; and nothing but an instant

miracle of grace and power saved him from the "snare of the

Devil." Indeed, the whole plan of salvation is intended to

humble the pride of man, by exhibiting his restoration to the

Divine favor, as a free gift through the atoning blood of the

cross. How hateful, therefore, is proud man's resistance to this

humbling doctrine of the cross, and the humbling requisitions

of the life of faith flowing from it! This makes the sure

"foundation" of the believer's hope, "a stone of stumbling" to

the unbeliever's ruin. As regards also the means of salvationhow can pride lift up his head in the view of the Son of God,

"taking upon Him the form of a servant," that He might bear

the curse of man? "Behold, the soul that is lifted up is not

upright in him."

But can a sinner-can a saint-be proud?-one that owes

everything to free and sovereign grace-one that has wasted

so much time-abused so much mercy-so grieved the Spirit of

God-that has a heart so full of atheism- unbelief-selfishness?

No, the very pride itself should be the matter of the deepest

daily humiliation. Thus the remembrance of it may, under

Divine grace, prove an effectual means of subduing it in our

hearts. We shall overcome corruption by its own working, and

meet our adversary with his own weapons. And if this cursed

principle be not wholly destroyed, yet the very sight of its

corruption, deepening our contrition, will be overruled for our

spiritual advancement. O blessed end intended by the Lord's dealings with us! to

"humble and to prove us"-"to know," and to make us know

"what was in our heart, that He might do us good at the latter

end!" Let us not frustrate His gracious intentions, or build

again the things which He would have destroyed. May we love

to lie low-lower than ever-infinitely low before Him! Lord! teach

us to remember, that "that which is highly esteemed among

men, is abomination in Your sight." Teach us to bless You, for

even Your sharp and painful discipline which tends to

subjugate this hateful pride of our hearts before our Savior's

cross!



by

Charles Bridges

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